Homes were evacuated as fire crews battled a massive fire - involving 3,000 wooden pallets - at a firm in Huncoat this afternoon.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing an explosion at the pallet company on Enfield Road near the railway crossing and five houses near to the inferno had to be evacuated.

Chris Waring, Incident Commander at station manager at Burnley fire station told the Observer that firefighters identified "hazards" in the engineering works, including over-heated gas cylinders however the cause of the fire is not yet known.

The rail lines through Huncoat have now reopened and Northern Rail confirmed that disruption to trains as a result of the fire has ended and services are no longer affected.

Louise Reynolds, of nearby Sedum Gardens, witnessed the fire. She said: "I got a message from a neighbour and then went upstairs to have a look, it was a very intense fire and there was a big boom as well."

Incident Commander Waring said that crews had to tackle the "severe fire" and evacuate nearby properties amid concerns the blaze could spread.

He said: "We received a call at 2pm to a fire at a pallet company on Enfield Road in Huncoat. Initially there were two pumps from Hyndburn, when they got to the scene it was quickly increased so at its height we had ten fire appliances from throughout Lancashire, two aerial ladder platforms and one high volume pump.

"Crews were met with severe fire and five adjacent properties were all evacuated. The railway line was closed for a time as well. There were concerns early on that the fire could spread.

"There were hazards identified in the engineering works - there were several cylinders involved and one of the cylinders had to be cooled for over an hour before it was deemed safe."

The fire was eventually extinguished by ten fire engines, two aerial ladders and a high volume pump.

Incident Commander Waring added there is likely to be a fire service presence overnight and a joint operation between the police and fire service to determine the cause of the fire.

A multi-agency response - 'Operation Merlin' - was initially enacted to the fire but it was later stood down.

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A spokesperson from Lancashire Fire and Rescue service said: "Operation Merlin has now been stood down and so the railways are now being reopened. The number of appliances at this incident are also being reduced with two from Hyndburn, one from Rawtenstall, one from Burnley and the Aerial Ladder Platform and supporting appliance from Blackpool being stood down.

"Approximately 3,000 wooden pallets are involved in the fire and the building was well alight when crews first arrived at the scene.

"There are no reports of casualties but the fire involving wooden pallets has generated a large plume of smoke and anyone living or working nearby is advised to keep windows shut and if out and about, to stay away from the area for the time being."

Catherine Payne who lives on Bluebell Way in Huncoat also witnessed the fire. She said: “I spotted the fire when I was coming back from a friend’s house and thought it was my house that was on fire. We have lived here a couple of years and I have never seen anything like that before."

Catherine added that she also heard what appeared to be an explosion as the fire worsened.

During the battle to get the fire under control, the road and railway line were blocked off by fire crews and Northern Rail suspended all services through the station.

Trains had been unable to run between Accrington and Rose Grove so rail bosses had requested road transport to operate between Accrington, Rose Grove and Todmorden.